What I find a pain is the inconsistent policy that the airlines have regarding the use of cell phones. I personally think that if the aircraft door is open, then it should be o.k.

On most domestic flights I find the airlines are o.k. with this. However, on international flights, this is a totally different matter! I was on a domestic Ansett flight last year, we had landed and were leaving the plane (door open & people were walking out) when I turned on my phone and it just happened to ring. The flight attendant screamed at the top of her voice that I could blow up the plane because it may cause a spark to the fuel tank!!! Of course, everyone turned around at me and I was thoroughly embarrassed!

On another flight, I was on a QF international flight leaving LAX and was in first class. My phone started to ring so I took the call and immediately the flight attendant came up to me and said that I could not use the phone. He said the cockpit (directly above on this 747 plane) could tell immediately that a cell phone was being used on-board. So I had to go outside and talk in the boarding bridge area.

However, BA did allow me to use the phone while we were on the ground. I cannot remember which country that was in when I used it.

[This message has been edited by bagold (edited 05-24-2000).]